The Brain Station!

Brains are very clever and complex. Let’s find out a little more about how they work.

Your brain works better and faster than the world’s most advanced computers. Luckily, it’s tucked safely inside your skull, which is designed to keep it protected from bumps and bruises.

Let’s explore the inner workings of the brain. Is yours switched on? Great, well then here we go!

Cerebellum

Say ser-reh-bell-um

This word means “little brain”. The cerebellum controls your coordination, balance and the smooth movement of your muscles so you can walk, swing, skip, hop and dance!

Cerebrum

Say ser-ree-brum

This part of the brain is the biggest. It controls your movement, emotions, senses, hormones, body temperature, sleeping, eating and drinking, how you learn and understand language, the storage of memories and mental activities like thinking and learning!

Brain stem

This part of the brain is in charge of your body’s automatic survival instincts. It controls reflexes like breathing, sneezing, swallowing and coughing. Thanks to the brain stem, you don’t have to worry about remembering to breathe - you do it automatically.

What is a neuron?

They are brain cells that “talk” to one another, transferring information from cell to cell like sparks in an electrical circuit.